I don't think it is wise to start heavy duty lung busting exercices so early in the season, it was advised to me to concentrate first on base miles with 2X20 min TT once a week thrown in the mix before ramping it up in late December/January .

I don't think we'll be doing anything lung busting, but would love to know if this sort of riding is a big no-no this time of the season.... I'm not doing any hill sprints, intervals, etc. but every so often, I like to focus on hills and mix things up. Sometimes I'll hammer in a hard gear on one lap, take it easy the next, then spin fast in an easier gear, then take it easy again. I also mix up my hand and body position. Staying seated, then out of the saddle, hands on the hoods and rocking, hands on tops and "pulsing". Also experimenting with shifting up/down in rhythm with sitting and standing.

For people who aren't racing this fall, I think it's safe to say that you can do whatever you want this time of year. Your main goal should be coming into December and January mentally and emotionally refreshed and hungry to train. You don't need to be riding you a$$ of in early November; now is a good time to get yourself and your gear ready for the winter ahead. Ride so that you want to ride the next day.

Hoping to start heading out this week for easy small ring spinning.

Nice easy ride with Eric, Jay, Tim, and Craig this morning.  Forgot how dark and cold it gets.

Yaaay David! So glad to hear you're back. 

Great to hear you're back Dave, park wasn't the same without you.

Aww warm fuzzies all around!

I'll be out tomorrow morning at 6AM

Hey sleepyheads! What happened this morning?

Sleep happened this morning!  Sorry Thierry!  Pie on me next weekend ride.

As David said, sleep happened    planning to be out on Friday morning though.

David Yang said:

Sleep happened this morning!  Sorry Thierry!  Pie on me next weekend ride.

I won't forget the offer!

Is it really going to snow tomorrow? http://www.weather.com/weather/tomorrow/Brooklyn+NY+USNY0176:1:US

if it's not nasty I'm game for a few laps.

I'm not convinced it's going to snow.  I think we'll luck out and have either freezing rain or just ice.

It does say *light* snow. I'm in if it's not perilous. 

My ability to judge peril is questionable. I'll be there.

I would not venture out in the freezing rain unless I own a cross bike or something of the sort. Good luck tomorrow morning!

Four of us this morning with fenders and base layers.  The rain started as I was leaving my house and went through periods of light mist and definitely raining, and the snow swept in a bit as I was nearing my house on the way back.  The weather channel actually got this one right, as it was cold and the wind had steady gusts, and while I wasn't ready to use them, my jacket and winter gloves were just what I needed, though it still took 20 minutes for my fingers and toes to come back to room temps once home.

Kudos to all you hard men and women.  I pretended to sleep through the alarm.

Hey, yeah...kudos...now when it's say...25 degrees and dry and sunny some weekend...you have no excuse for not showing up to a weekend group ride. Because you absolutely rode in worse conditions today. Much worse. #tiredofjustridingwithjponthosedays.

Marc Bertucco said:

Hey, yeah...kudos...now when it's say...25 degrees and dry and sunny some weekend...you have no excuse for not showing up to a weekend group ride. Because you absolutely rode in worse conditions today. Much worse. #tiredofjustridingwithjponthosedays.

Yes and no.  Going out for an hour close to home in 40 degree sleet is very different from going out for 4 or 5 hours far from home in 25 degree weather.  

I think this will be the poetic refrain for the winter:  Cold and windy this morning.

Rolling out from the quadriga at GAP, I was confident that new neoprene gloves (purchased at RB last night) would bring me victory in my recent battles with the cold. Unfortunately, my hands are proving to be my Achilles' heel. The gloves kept me toasty for the first 30 minutes, then there was wind, then there was sweat, then there was agony. As soon as I regained feeling in my finger tips, I bought some lobsters online.

McKay and I met this morning at 6 and rode for a lap until we jumped onto the Prospect Peloton and hoovered up all the single riders until there were about 12 of us or so ducking behind each other from the hard wind blowing sideways.